Position Summary
The Carlyle Group seeks a candidate with significant stature in Washington, DC to help build and manage The Carlyle Group’s portfolio companies’ relationships with government and quasi-governmental organizations on a global basis.
The Vice President, Government Affairs must be capable of understanding the substantive policy issues of the industries which the firm is associated with as well as the business issues affecting one of the world’s leading private equity firms and its portfolio companies.
Responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities
• Support the Head of Global Government Affairs in advancing Carlyle’s legislative, regulatory and political agenda on a global basis.
• Anticipate the political, social and economic issues that will affect the firm and its investments; recommend and enact appropriate action and/or response as necessary.
• Create and execute specific government relations strategies and programs to ensure significantly increased reputation and understanding of The Carlyle Group with respect to its strategic positioning in the industry globally, and build the firm’s reputation for high integrity, competitive leadership and sustained performance.
• Work with corporate private equity portfolio companies to support and shape their regulatory and government affairs strategies.
• Establish, maintain and direct a government affairs agenda to include maintenance of a bi-partisan contact network and a strategic communications program with Members of Congress, Governors, other state leaders and their respective staffs.
• Establish and maintain key relationships at senior and other strategic levels within the Administration.
• Develop relationships and engage in partnerships with trade organizations and strategic industry groups in order to influence legislation and public policy that affects The Carlyle Group and its portfolio companies.
• Help create an agenda that attracts and sustains strategic involvement of The Carlyle Group’s senior leadership team and also that of its portfolio companies.
Qualifications
Education & Certificates
• Bachelors degree is required.
• An advanced degree such as a Juris Doctorate or M.B.A. is highly desirable.
Professional Experience
• 10+ years of experience as a Government Relations executive with a major multinational company, Congress, or the Administration. Specific industry experience is an asset.
• The Carlyle Group’s portfolio companies span multiple continents; as a result international experience is desirable.
• An ability to quickly grasp and address the legislative and regulatory issues facing the industries in which the firm operates and how they impact the firm
• Well-versed in the trends of government relations and the art of building strong bi-partisan relationships.
• Global perspective and understanding of the implications that federal policies have on the global marketplace.
• A proven record of working on a broad scope of issues and having the ability to prioritize appropriately.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, leadership ability, initiative and creativity, and a high degree of skill and judgment while working within an environment that places a premium on collaboration and teamwork; strong coalition building skills.
• A thorough understanding of U.S. Congressional, Cabinet and Independent Agencies policy-making processes, including an understanding of the roles and decision points in the Executive agencies, The White House, the Senate and the House, as well as the role of think tanks and associations.
Competencies & Attributes
• Knows the business and the mission-critical technical and functional skills needed to do the job; understands various types of business propositions and understands how businesses operate in general; learns new methods and technologies easily.
• Can solve even the toughest and most complex of problems; great at gleaning meaning from whatever data is available; is a quick study of the new and different; adds personal wisdom and experience to come to the best conclusion and solution, given the situation; uses multiple problem-solving tools and techniques.
• Can quickly separate the mission-critical from the nice to dos and the trivials; quickly senses what's the next most useful thing to work on; focuses on the critical few tasks that really add value and puts aside or delays the rest.
• Attacks everything with drive and energy with an eye on the bottom line; not afraid to initiate action before all the facts are known; drives to finish everything he/she starts.
• Maneuvers well to get things done; maze bright; knows where to go to get what he/she needs; politically aware and agile; knows what the right thing to do is; presents views and arguments well.
• Writes and presents effectively; adjusts to fit the audience and the message; strongly gets a message across.
• Relates well to a wide variety of diverse styles, types, and classes; open to differences; effective up, down, sideways, inside, and outside; builds diverse networks; quick to find common ground; treats differences fairly and equitably; treats everyone as a preferred customer.
Benefits/Compensation
The compensation range for this role is specific to Washington, DC and takes into account a wide range of factors including but not limited to the skill sets required/preferred; prior experience and training; licenses and/or certifications.
The anticipated base salary range for this role is $190,000 to $200,000.
In addition to the base salary, the hired professional will enjoy a comprehensive benefits package spanning retirement benefits, health insurance, life insurance and disability, paid time off, paid holidays, family planning benefits and various wellness programs. Additionally, the hired professional may also be eligible to participate in an annual discretionary incentive program, the award of which will be dependent on various factors, including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.
Due to the high volume of candidates, please be advised that only candidates selected to interview will be contacted by Carlyle.
Company Information
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with $475 billion of assets under management, across 678 investment vehicles as of March 31, 2026. Founded in 1987 in Washington, DC, Carlyle has grown into one of the world's largest and most successful investment firms, with more than 2,500 professionals operating in 28 offices in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
Carlyle’s purpose is to connect people, ideas, and capital to fuel growth for companies and performance for investors, which range from public and private pension funds to wealthy individuals and families to sovereign wealth funds, unions and corporations. Carlyle invests across three segments – Global Private Equity, Global Credit and Carlyle AlpInvest – and has deep expertise across industries, markets, and geographies.
At Carlyle, we believe that a wide spectrum of experiences and viewpoints drives performance and success. Our CEO, Harvey Schwartz, has stated that, "To build better businesses and create value for all of our stakeholders, we are focused on assembling leadership teams with the strongest insights from a range of perspectives." Reflecting this view, emphasis is placed on development, retention and inclusion through our internal processes and seven Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). We cultivate a culture where ideas are openly shared and challenged, connecting diverse expertise and perspectives to drive enduring value.
